<p>I think sometimes what freaks me out is all the posts that say if you don’t have at least a 3.7 and 32 ACT you don’t stand a chance at the U of ####. Then I go to cappex and DD is match with the school right at the 50% mark. So which do you believe? Will be putting in first app tomorrow for University of Iowa where according to their web site DD is a admit; they have a formula you plug your numbers into and if your above a certain number your in. Should know pretty soon if she has at least one good choice no matter what happens. On a good note she finally opened the computer program I bought her last year to help study for the ACT.</p>
<p>@newfaith: We are going out to visit University of Iowa in 2 weeks. Also looking at ISU while we are there. After my D’s surprise with her junior level grades, we were going to cancel the trip. However she surprised us a day later with much higher than expected ACT scores. She meets the ISU required RAI number but falls short of the Iowa required number for OSS students. The UI admissions people said she is right “on the cusp” and encouraged we visit.</p>
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<p>I don’t think the thrust of most of the “3.7 and 32 ACT” posts is that someone “doesn’t have a chance.”</p>
<p>I think a lot of those posts concern (a) merit aid and what the common thresholds are for receiving a decent amount of it are, which usually resides in the upper 25% of applicants. </p>
<p>And (b) it’s not that the “50% mark” “doesn’t have a chance” at “U of ####.” It’s that being in the fifty percent range should probably be looked at as a *possible * match and not necessarily as a safety.</p>
<p>At least that’s how I would look at it. Hope that makes some sense.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree. It’s mainly merit aid people are talking about and having the school being a match rather than a safety.</p>
<p>The fallacy is thinking scores in the mid 50% region guarantees acceptance (unless the school has a really high acceptance rate). Many look at the scores, see theirs match, and assume they will easily get in. It doesn’t always happen that way. The majority of students who apply to schools have scores that match, so if the school has a 40% acceptance rate, not all will be accepted even with matching scores. The school is a match (decent chance, but not guaranteed).</p>
<p>We’re heading to an Elon visit on July 22nd (any recommendations on where to stay?) and then to High Point on the 23rd. From there it will be a couple days at the beach (Outer Banks) (anyone have any suggestions on where to stay in the OBX for a couple of nights)? On the 25th drive to outlets in Williamsburg and then to Richmond to spend the night with relatives. On the 26th visit James Madison and then homeward bound.</p>
<p>@sciguru: We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Burlington. It is right off the highway and in with a cluster of restaurants. Elon is a short trip from there, maybe a few miles. Good luck with your trip!</p>
<p>scsiguru, I am an old time poster, but have not posted in some time and I no longer read cc regularly. I happened to catch your post bc since I read cc this morning I got some Emails from cc on threads I have posted on. I want to suggest that you also have a look at Queens University of Charlotte since you are visiting High Point. I don’t know what your child wants to major in, but this is also a small school in a beautiful suburban area of Charlotte, so lots to do (not an isolated campus), and 25 minutes from the airport. They have really recently poured a lot of money into the facilities! I probably won’t see your reply, but you can send a PM if you have questions about this school. I don’t have suggestions for the outer banks. As a side note, I spent a week at Holden Beach in a house rental. It was very peaceful. My son loved the house rental experience. I was okay with it since we were with family, but I prefer a different type of vacation experience. The beach itself seemed private, clean, and just lovely!</p>
<p>@scsiguru - when in Williamsburg, eat lunch at Paul 's Deli or the Cheese Shop.</p>
<p>sciguru, I also thought I would put Roanoke College on your radar. I don’t know if you explored visiting this school or not. A reach school depending upon stats for B student, but you might want to check out Wake Forest when in NC.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>My nephew went to Roanoke and really liked it! He graduated about 5 yrs ago - I think he was a B student in HS.</p>
<p>I will not nag my daughter. I will not nag my daughter. I will not nag my daughter.</p>
<p>But here’s what I really want to say:</p>
<p>Have you…
- Started your college essay (so she’s prepared for an essay writing camp she goes to in a couple of weeks).
- Worked on your activity resume (due to guidance in a couple of weeks)
- Started your summer AP Biology homework (or made the study schedule like you said you were going to)
- Started your AP English summer reading assignments (has 2 books to read and questions to answer)
- Submitted any job applications like you have been telling me you are going to do for the last 3 months.</p>
<p>She makes me want to scream. Why doesn’t she DO anything? Then she wouldn’t have to worry about it at the last minute. I just don’t get it.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for listening (or reading!) this. I feel better now :)</p>
<p>benreb, substitute “he” for “she” and I’m right there with you.</p>
<p>benreb, I hear you. I told my daughter this week is it; next week I expect to start seeing some progress on the exact things you have mentioned. Sigh. I guess we are at the point we see how precious having time is, and for them, it doesn’t really mean anything. I know I was pretty much the same way at that age (ie, leaving everything to the last minute), but I was hoping there would be something that my kids would learn from my mistakes.</p>
<p>BobbyCT: Thanks for the information on the Hampton in Burlington. I’ve stayed in many Hamton Hotels across the country and generally have had good experiences with them. I’ll check that one out. My D just wants a hotel that has a pool since she’s an avid swimmer.</p>
<p>Northeastmom: If you see this post, thanks for the heads up on Queens University. I checked their website and also passed along the information to D14. Looks like a really nice school and has a lot to offer. Since it’s not far off the route for us, we may have to visit. Also, Roanoke looks like it might be a stop as well on the way home. Just slightly off our trip route but definitely worth a shot. I would definitely like her to to look at Wake Forest (even though it would be a reach unless she can get increase her standardized test scores), but you know it just might be worth a visit since we’re there already. Since we’re only able to spend a few days on the beach, we’ll probably just have to get a hotel (hard to find rentals for two nights).</p>
<p>Quagmiro: Thanks for the information on places to eat in Williamsburg. I always enjoy eating at a “non-chain” restaurant when traveling. Hopefully we’ll be able to work Willimasburg into our schedule. Right now our itinerary is still very fluid.</p>
<p>Take care everyone and enjoy the rest of your summer!!!</p>
<p>DD and I attended Elon’s open house this year and stayed at the Country Inn & Suites, also in Burlington. Love, love, loved it (oh, and Elon too!)</p>
<p>Back in the dark ages when I went to college (in the Great White North),
we enrolled in courses or half courses. In a given 2-semester academic year,
a 5-course load was ‘standard’. </p>
<p>After 4 years prostrate to the higher mind, one was expected to have
acquired a combination of courses & half-courses totalling 20.</p>
<p>Easy.</p>
<p>I’d be most appreciative if someone could 'splain me credits,
'cause I don’t grok them at all.</p>
<p>Thanks much,</p>
<ul>
<li>Richard</li>
</ul>
<p>It depends on the school, whether it is quarters or semesters, and other factors. You can look at each school’s graduation requirements to see what credits are worth.</p>
<p>Sometimes one credit equals one semester-hour of class time, that is, one hour per week spent in class on that subject for a semester. I believe my BS was based on semester-hours you were supposed to be putting into the class, so a typical class was 12 credits, even though only three of those might have been scheduled class time.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>What can I say, boy? I nagged you to study until I was blue in the face. Sheesh! A 2 (human geography) and two 3’s (US history and environmental science), which will get him absolutely nothing. Fortunately, he got A’s in the classes so the test scores don’t hurt him any. I have low expectations for the five APs he’s taking this coming year …</p>
<p>We embark on a two-week, 3600-mile, 7-college road trip tomorrow. Son has his heart set on Hampden-Sydney. He will likely get in and will likely be offered some (enough?) merit aid. He’s visited there twice already and this will be the third time. He attends a private prep school now (SMH) and we joking refer to Hampden-Sydney as “SMH East.” This suits him as he’s very much a homebody and we purposely want to send him away to gain more independence (he’ll still be within hours of family and godparents anywhere in VA).</p>
<p>How do we encourage him to be open to learning about all the other schools that could be just as good – or even better! – for him?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>expatCanuck—when I attended college many years ago, we needed 120 credits to graduate, in addition to two semesters of PE. Most classes were three-credit courses that met three times/week for 50 minutes or sometimes twice a week for an hour & fifteen. TA sessions were optional. As I did not study science, I did not have any additional lab hours. Most students enrolled in five three-credit courses/semester or sometimes a combination of two four-credit and two three-credit.</p>
<p>While touring some colleges this past year, it appeared that four courses is now considered a full load. I haven’t drilled down on that to look at course credits at various colleges as we are still a long way from applying!</p>